Like two body-builders in a pose-off, the Giants and Dallas Cowboys met a midfield and flexed Sunday -- and that was before the game even started. Then, no one sang the national anthem, and when the two teams finally kicked off in the bitter cold, the stands were half empty for a game -- against the most hated division rival -- that would decide the season that was brought back from the brink.

The staredown: During the pregame warm-ups, the Giants gathered at the 50-yard line just as the Cowboys were wrapping up their session, and the two sides locked eyes and exchanged some wind-chill-factor trash talk from their blue lips. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck called it “friendly banter,” but the Cowboys, after listening to the Giants chirp all week, took offense. “For them to … meet us at the 50-yard line like that in a staredown …. I just said, ‘They’re not going to be able to talk themselves into a victory.’ Sooner or later, we’re going to kick the ball off and they’re going to have to play,’” Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick said.

Ebony and ivory: Jazz artist Jonathan Batiste played "The Star-Spangled Banner” on piano before the game, without vocal accompaniment, and because of his fingers’ extra-curricular activity, it was sometimes difficult to determine where, exactly, he was in the song. But the crowd loved it, and on a cold day, give him credit: His hands worked a whole lot better than the Cowboys’ and Giants’ mitts: They dropped passes all day.

Can you whistle for me? On first-and-10 from the Giants’ 45-yard line, quarterback Eli Manning hit receiver Victor Cruz with a short pass on the right sideline late in the first quarter. As Cruz fought for yardage against a gang tackle, Scandrick ripped the ball from his arm, and safety Jeff Heath took the fumble 50 yards for a 7-0 lead. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin couldn’t believe the officials didn’t blow the play dead before the turnover. “It was four of them battling one guy,” Coughlin said. “For them to have a touchdown on a play like that is unbelievable.” Not on this crazy day.

Touch football: With the Giants trailing 21-6 in the third quarter, tight end Brandon Myers made a tumbling third-down catch at the Cowboys’ 10-yard line between linebacker Bruce Carter and Heath. But neither defender touched Myers, who jumped to his feet and lumbered into the end zone for a TD as the embarrassed Cowboys watched.

Stuck in reverse: Early in the fourth quarter, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo hooked up with receiver Dez Bryant on a second-and-10, but safety Will Hill stripped the ball, which, by the time both teams had stopped slapping at it, bounced out of bounds at the Cowboys’ 31, making it third-and-30.

Wait, who caught that TD pass? This was a game in which the big names were involved in the big plays. Cowboys tight end Jason Witten caught two TD passes. Romo drove the Cowboys to the game-winning field goal. Andre Brown rushed for 127 yards. And then there’s Louis Murphy, who caught a 4-yard scoring pass to help the Giants tie the game, 21-21, in the fourth quarter. In case you’re wondering why the Cowboys left him open: Murphy had only one other catch this season.

A draw? Really? The Giants faced a third-and-goal from the 10-yard line, down 14-3 in the second quarter. So, we know what you’re thinking: A quick slant to Cruz, maybe something in the back of the end zone to Myers, or rollout to find Rueben Randle forgotten by the secondary beneath a goal post? Nope, nope and nope. The Giants called a draw to Brown. Five yards (and roughly 40,000 boos) later, they kicked a field goal.

(The same call, however, helped the Giants convert a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter and tie the game at 21.)

Weatherforce: The last time we saw Steve Weatherford punting in tough winds at MetLife Stadium (against the Raiders), we were reminded of the day Jets punter Chuck Ramsey shanked a few at windy Shea Stadium and, when asked about the performance, coach Walt Michaels said, “I can (pass gas) farther than that.” Well, Sunday, in swirling winds, Weatherford redeemed himself by bombing kicks of 68 yards (to the Cowboys’ 10-yard line) and 67 (to the Cowboys’ 8). Weatherford averaged a season-high 54.6 yards on five punts. Somewhere, Michael is smiling. (Or maybe it’s just gas.)

Time warp: We’re supposed to turn the clocks back in the fall, but this is ridiculous. Giants running back Brandon Jacobs set his back a few years, and ripped off a 37-yard run. Not bad for a 31-yard-old who was signed off the scrap heap and probably is playing his last season in the NFL. The run was Jacobs’ longest since his career-long 73-yarder against the Minnesota Vikings in 2010. His previous long run this season was a 16-yarder in Chicago on Oct. 10.

Still waiting: Maybe Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett’s fingers were too numb to pull out the challenge flag, but he should’ve launched it in the fourth quarter, when a pass to Bryant was ruled incomplete. Because, on replay, it sure looked like a catch and a first down inside the Giants’ 10 with 1:30 remaining. Didn't matter. Four plays later (two kneel-downs by Romo), Dan Bailey kicked the game-winner.